tmj pain Archives - 5 Star Dental Group

Why Do Same-Day Crowns Make My Mouth Dry?

Posted on December 11, 2023 by AllSmiles.

I received same-day crowns in June to close a large gap. My dentist placed the crowns on six upper front teeth. Since then, my mouth hasn’t closed well, and the crowns interfere with my speech. I think the tension from it all is causing dry mouth and sore lips. I’m so tense that my jaw and neck hurt, too. I don’t understand why this is happening. I’ve complained to my dentist, but her adjustments haven’t helped. Will removing the crowns resolve it? – Thanks. Drew from MT

Drew,

It’s good that you’re seeking advice. One of our dentists would need to examine your crowns for a definite diagnosis, but the crowns are likely causing the issues. However, your symptoms could occur with any crowns—not just same-day crowns.

Dental crowns should not cause pain, dry mouth, or issues with your speech. Your descriptions sound like your new crowns opened your bite too much.

Why Might Same-Day Crowns Make Your Mouth Dry?

Diagram of the temporomandibular joint and surrounding structures

A prosthodontist can determine why dental crowns cause dry mouth and TMJ symptoms.

Your crowns may dry your mouth if they are too thick, too long—or both. Your lips should close naturally without effort. When crowns interfere with your mouth and teeth, the problems you’ve described can occur. The consequences are severe enough to affect your oral health and contribute to other issues.

Lip incompetence – When your teeth prevent your lips from closing naturally without effort, it results in lip incompetence, including numbness and dry mouth. If your mouth doesn’t close properly, it interrupts saliva flow that contains antibodies that fight tooth decay. A dry mouth interrupts saliva and breeds bacteria that lead to tooth decay.
Misaligned bite – When your bite—how your upper and lower teeth fit together—is off, it can cause speech problems and TMJ-related jaw and neck pain.

We recommend visiting a cosmetic dentist for a second opinion. Dentists have difficulty achieving the right fit and bite when multiple crowns are placed on successive teeth. An advanced cosmetic dentist will examine your crowns and let you know your options for correcting crown placement or replacing them altogether.

San Antonio dentists Dr. Gilberto Tostado and Dr. Karina Acuña sponsor this post.

Why Did My Jaw Hurt After My Dental Appointment?

Posted on August 7, 2020 by AllSmiles.

Hi,

I recently had my teeth prepared for several temporary crowns and several porcelain veneers placed on my lower teeth. I am looking forward to when my porcelain crowns come in, but ever since my appointment, my jaw has been aching. I cannot get through the day without taking over the counter pain killers, and wish I had something stronger. It usually hurts worse later in the day, and I need to take something to ease the pain before bedtime.

It’s been several days since my appointment, but my jaw pain hasn’t let up. Is this normal? Do I need to go back to my dentist? I really hope it stops soon.

Mayumi, from Gadsden, AL

Hi Mayumi,

There usually is residual pain after long appointments, as your mouth has been through a lot. You will likely have pain or discomfort for one or two weeks after the surgery. Preparing that many teeth for crowns and veneers requires the mouth to be open for much longer than you’re used to.

To make yourself more comfortable, you can call your dentist and ask if there is anything else you can do. The pain is likely temporary, so it should not be TMJ or TMD. Over the counter pain killers are OK to take, and try to rest your jaw as much as possible. You can also use heat from warm towels to help your jaw relax.

This blog post is brought to you by San Antonio TMJ dentist, Gilberto Tostado, of 5 Star Dental Group.

Are My TMJ Problems and Diabetes Related?

Posted on July 3, 2020 by AllSmiles.

Hi there,

I have been having jaw pain for months. I tense my jaw when I’m stressed, and I grind my teeth at night. My dentist made a night guard so I would stop grinding, but still no relief. I have tried cold compresses and ibuprofen to reduce the pain and inflammation, but still nothing. My dentist also ground down some teeth, as a misaligned bite was likely causing TMJ pain. Still no help.

My insurance has not been covering this, so I am out a lot of money and no closer to finding an answer to my pain. I feel like my dentist has given up, as his latest idea is that my diabetes is responsible for my pain. Is that correct? He knew I had diabetes when I first walked into the office, so why did it take him so long to mention a link between the two?

Since he thinks it is linked to my diabetes, he says there is nothing he can do for the pain. It is interfering with my daily life; I can barely eat or sleep because of the pain. What can I do? Or will I be in pain for the rest of my life?

From Alphonse, in Columbus, Ohio

Hi Alphonse,

You are correct, your temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is likely the cause of your pain. However, if your dentist knew you were diabetic, he should not have prescribed you ibuprofen, as it is contraindicated for diabetics, meaning you could be at higher risk of side effects.

Diabetes can cause oral health problems, such as dry mouth, which can lead to gingivitis. It can also cause diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage to your nerves near the surface of your skin. This usually affects a patient’s feet but can affect other parts of your body, and very rarely affects your face.

Despite the link between the two, there are still ways to options. If your dentist is not willing to treat your pain, you should seek a second opinion. A dentist more skilled in treating TMJ will likely be able to provide you some relief.

This blog post is brought to you by San Antonio TMJ dentist, Dr. Gilberto Tostado, of 5 Star Dental Group. Please note that TMJ is not a specialization or certification, but dentist who pursue continuing education courses pertaining to TMJ will call themselves TMJ dentists or TMJ specialists.